History Lesson 2: Understanding the Past

Study Notes

What is History?

History involves studying the past and the processes of understanding it.
Historians pose enquiry questions to guide their investigations into past events.
Research includes reading primary sources, which provide direct evidence from the time being studied.
Historians also review secondary sources, which are writings by other historians, to gain additional insights.

The Age of Bands (100,000 B.C. – 10,000 B.C.)

Human beings, known as homo sapiens, evolved in Africa and began migrating around 100,000 years ago.
This migration marks the beginning of a period called the Age of Bands, characterized by small groups of people.
Bands typically consisted of 30-50 individuals without designated leaders, leading a nomadic lifestyle.
Nomads moved to follow animal herds for survival, relying on them for food, clothing, and tools.
Tools included hunting implements crafted from bones, while hides were used for shelter and clothing.
Life during this period was simple and harsh, lacking structures like writing, music, and organized religion.
Society was highly dependent on the movement of animals, affecting the nomadic bands' location and resources.
Limited archaeological evidence restricts our understanding of this era, requiring reliance on remnants left behind.

Description

This quiz explores the essential concepts of history, focusing on the methods historians use to study the past. It highlights the significance of enquiry questions and the importance of primary sources in historical investigations. Test your understanding of the foundational elements of historical inquiry.